caption:FRISBEE DOG: During his brief nine week stay
at Small Animal Rescue, Baxter, a four-year old cairn terrier,
entertained himself and others for hour by tossing his special
Frisbee in the air and balancing it on his head.end
of caption

Ken Smith

Four-year-old
Baxter, a boisterous and tempestuous cairn terrier, found himself
on a journey last Christmas Eve that would take him from a familiar
family home in New Hampshire to an unfamiliar 53-acre sanctuary
for dogs in Griggstown, New Jersey.

The original
owners who loved their shaggy-haired white pet had grown concerned
because Baxter was given to unexpected nips at visitors and strangers,
especially small children.

When their infant
grandchildren were planning to visit for the holidays the difficult
decision was made by the elderly couple to give their beloved,
but irascible, Baxter up for adoption.

Through
intervention by Katie McDonough at Cairn Rescue, an organization
dedicated to assisting cairn terrier adoptions, Baxter found a
temporary home at Small Animal Rescue on Canal Road until a suitable
permanent home with a family could be found. He could not have
found a more idyllic place to stay.

Immediately
Baxter was given special living privileges inside the main house,
apart from the assorted mix of dogs that lived outside in the
big red barn. For nine winter weeks, everyone who came in contact
with Baxter was enchanted with his playful antics, but none more
than Emmett Wilson, a retired child psychiatrist and hands-on
founder and caretaker of more than 100 dogs who call Canal Road
home. The sanctuary, funded largely by Emmett himself, has become
the center of his life ever since his wife passed away six years
ago.

Baxter met every criterion guaranteed
to gain admittance. He was small, homeless, and exhibited some
behavioral issues that would make adoption challenging. He was
friendless except for the one friend who mattered most 
Emmett Wilson.

caption:BROKEN HEART: Baxter nuzzled his way into
the life of Emmett Wilson and left nine weeks later, leaving behind
more questions than answers concerning his adoption.end
of caption

While
Baxter exhibited an outsize personality for his small cairn frame,
and could frighten even the most steadfast dog lover with his
bark and growl, he could also be gentle and entertain himself
and others by tossing a Frisbee onto his head and balancing it
there as if he were a celebrated circus performer. It was his
special trick. He was special and he knew it. Emmett knew it too.

And so, when Emmett received a call from a middle-aged couple
without children on Riverside Drive in Princeton who had learned
about Baxter and expressed an interest in adopting him, it was
with some ambivalence that he invited them over.

When the prospective new owners arrived, Baxter let it be known
that he did not want to leave Emmett's safe care and he nipped
at the middle-aged woman three times. Instead of being upset,
the woman said she was familiar with the passive/aggressive personality
that sometimes characterized cairn terriers. Her reaction reassured
Emmett that she understood and would be sympathetic.

After an interview and a review of the contract agreement, Baxter
left Canal Road and headed off on another leg of his uncertain
journey. One of the key clauses of the agreement stated that should
Baxter not suit the needs of the adoptive family for whatever
reason, he should be returned to Small Animal Rescue with no questions
asked. The contract was furthermore unambiguous that, should there
ever be a need to euthanize the dog, Emmett would be contacted
first. When Baxter left on March 6 it was the last time Emmett
would see his newfound friend.

Shortly after
adoption Baxter was taken to a dog groomer and he growled and
nipped at the groomer. The groomer scolded Baxter and told the
owners that he would be trouble. A few days later a similar incident
repeated itself when a vet in Hopewell was examining Baxter.

The
new owners were advised that Baxter should be quarantined for
10 days so that he could be further evaluated. When Emmett called
the new owners he was advised about the situation and assured
that Baxter was being well cared for.

A few
days later the new owners, believing they were acting in good
faith and in the best interests of the dog, decided to put Baxter
down before leaving on a two week vacation. But despite the requirements
of the adoption agreement, Emmett was never called by the owners
to advise him of their decision.

It was not
until the owners had returned from vacation that Emmett discovered
that Baxter had been euthanized one week after leaving the sanctuary.

Emmett
doesn't feel it was a vengeful act, but he does feel the need
to defend Baxter's life and to ensure that this never happens
again.

The little dog who traveled from New
Hampshire in search of a new home never found one, except in the
heart of Emmett Wilson.

In honor of Baxter,
tax-deductible memorial donations may be made to Small Animal
Rescue, 943 Canal Road, Princeton, NJ 08540.